11:45 AM - 12:00 PM
[PPS09-10] Lunar Polar Exploration (LUPEX) Mission: Engineering Model of JAXA's Mission Instruments Onboard the LUPEX Rover
Keywords:Lunar Polar Region, Lunar water, LUPEX
Lunar Polar Exploration (LUPEX) mission is a joint mission with Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to explore the lunar polar region by a rover developed by JAXA and a lander developed by ISRO. The main objectives are to investigate the amount of water at lunar polar region and its usability as resource for future human activities on the lunar surface and to establish a technology of lunar surface mobility. In particular, the objective for water resource assessment will be achieved by obtaining data regarding water quantity and quality at the lunar polar region and data to understand lunar water accumulation mechanisms using mission instruments onboard the rover.
To achieve the above mission objectives, the seven mission instruments were selected: Resource Exploration Water Analyzer (REIWA), Advanced Lunar Imaging Spectrometer (ALIS), Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), Mid-Infrared Spectrometer (MIR), Permittivity and Thermophysical Investigation for Moon’s Aquatic Scout (PRATHIMA), Neutron Spectrometer (NS), and Exospheric Mass Spectrometer for LUPEX (EMS-L). REIWA and ALIS are developed by JAXA, GPR, MIR, and PRATHIMA are developed by ISRO, NS is provided by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and EMS-L is provided by European Space Agency (ESA). Note that the ISRO's Sample Analysis Package (ISAP), which is a subcomponent of REIWA, is developed by ISRO. In the presentation, the overview of JAXA's mission instruments and its development status will be reported.
REIWA is an integrated package instrument consisting of following subsystems: Lunar Thermogravimetric Analyzer (LTGA), Triple Reflection Reflectron (TRITON), Aquatic Detector using Optical Resonance (ADORE), ISAP, Common Electronics (COM-E), Common Plumping (COM-P), and Sample Container Handling System (HNDG). REIWA can analyze the amount and composition of volatile component included in lunar regolith samples excavated by a rover's drilling system. A regolith sample transported by HNDG can be heated to 500 K and weighed by LTGA. The decrease in weight corresponds to the amount of volatile component. The volatilized gas flows through the COM-P to TRITON and ADORE. TRIRON is a TOF mass spectrometer and can identify and quantify the molecules in the volatilized gas. ADORE is a cavity ring-down spectrometer and can measure the trace water and its isotope ratio (e.g. HHO/HDO) in the volatilized gas. Another regolith sample is also analyzed by the ISAP, which is a Raman spectrometer.
ALIS is a near infrared imaging spectrometer and is composed of four subcomponents: camera section consisted by optical system and electronics (ALIS-C), movable mirror section (ALIS-M), light section (ALIS-L), and standard diffuse reflector for calibration (ALIS-D). ALIS can observe an area of 2 m x 1 cm in the spectral range of 750 nm to 1,650 nm at 5 m distance from the rover and the field of view can be changed by ALIS-M. ALIS can spectroscopically identify and qualify water ice in lunar surface soil. Even shadow areas can be observed by illuminating with ALIS-L.
Preliminary Design Review (PDR) for REIWA and that for ALIS had already been held by last year and the current development status is that manufacturing of both engineering models (EM) has begun. The EM tests will be completed in the first half of FY2024, and Critical Design Review (CDR) for REIWA and that for ALIS will be held.
To achieve the above mission objectives, the seven mission instruments were selected: Resource Exploration Water Analyzer (REIWA), Advanced Lunar Imaging Spectrometer (ALIS), Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), Mid-Infrared Spectrometer (MIR), Permittivity and Thermophysical Investigation for Moon’s Aquatic Scout (PRATHIMA), Neutron Spectrometer (NS), and Exospheric Mass Spectrometer for LUPEX (EMS-L). REIWA and ALIS are developed by JAXA, GPR, MIR, and PRATHIMA are developed by ISRO, NS is provided by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and EMS-L is provided by European Space Agency (ESA). Note that the ISRO's Sample Analysis Package (ISAP), which is a subcomponent of REIWA, is developed by ISRO. In the presentation, the overview of JAXA's mission instruments and its development status will be reported.
REIWA is an integrated package instrument consisting of following subsystems: Lunar Thermogravimetric Analyzer (LTGA), Triple Reflection Reflectron (TRITON), Aquatic Detector using Optical Resonance (ADORE), ISAP, Common Electronics (COM-E), Common Plumping (COM-P), and Sample Container Handling System (HNDG). REIWA can analyze the amount and composition of volatile component included in lunar regolith samples excavated by a rover's drilling system. A regolith sample transported by HNDG can be heated to 500 K and weighed by LTGA. The decrease in weight corresponds to the amount of volatile component. The volatilized gas flows through the COM-P to TRITON and ADORE. TRIRON is a TOF mass spectrometer and can identify and quantify the molecules in the volatilized gas. ADORE is a cavity ring-down spectrometer and can measure the trace water and its isotope ratio (e.g. HHO/HDO) in the volatilized gas. Another regolith sample is also analyzed by the ISAP, which is a Raman spectrometer.
ALIS is a near infrared imaging spectrometer and is composed of four subcomponents: camera section consisted by optical system and electronics (ALIS-C), movable mirror section (ALIS-M), light section (ALIS-L), and standard diffuse reflector for calibration (ALIS-D). ALIS can observe an area of 2 m x 1 cm in the spectral range of 750 nm to 1,650 nm at 5 m distance from the rover and the field of view can be changed by ALIS-M. ALIS can spectroscopically identify and qualify water ice in lunar surface soil. Even shadow areas can be observed by illuminating with ALIS-L.
Preliminary Design Review (PDR) for REIWA and that for ALIS had already been held by last year and the current development status is that manufacturing of both engineering models (EM) has begun. The EM tests will be completed in the first half of FY2024, and Critical Design Review (CDR) for REIWA and that for ALIS will be held.